it.
‘There is just one small thing …’
Edmund Hoode tensed as the familiar phrase sounded. Was there to be a total reworking of the play, after all? His fears proved groundless.
‘Who will play the part of Gloriana?’
‘I assumed that it would be Martin Yeo.’
‘So did I until I read it.’
‘Martin has the maturity for the role.’
‘I am wondering if that is enough, Edmund,’ said Firethorn. ‘He is our senior apprentice, yes, and brings a wealth of experience but … well, he does have a hardness of feature that is more suited to an older woman.’
‘Gloriana is in her fifties,’ reminded Hoode.
‘Only in your play. Not when she sits upon the throne of England.’ An affectionate chuckle came. ‘All women are the same, Edmund. They try to defy time. In her heart, Elizabeth is still the young woman she was when she was first crowned.’
‘What are you saying, Lawrence?’
‘I think we should alter her age. Let her shed some twenty or thirty years. A Virgin Queen with the glow of youth still hanging upon her. It will strengthen the role immeasurably and make her love scenes with me much more convincing.’
‘You have a point. It might work to our advantage.’
‘It will, sir.’
‘In that case, we must cast John Tallis in the part.’
‘Indeed we must not.’
‘But he has such presence.’
‘So does that unfortunate jaw of his,’ returned Firethorn with a low moan. ‘John has talent but it is seen at its best when he is a witch or a lady-in-waiting. We cannot have a queen with a lantern jaw.’
‘That leaves Stephen Judd. I would settle for him.’
‘You’re forgetting someone, Edmund.’
‘Am I?’ He sat up in surprise. ‘Dick Honeydew?’
‘Why not?’
‘The boy has not been with us long enough. He still has much to learn. And he is so young.’
‘That is exactly why I would choose him. He has a quality of frail innocence that is perfect. It enlists the audience’s sympathy at once. They will not see a termagant queen who flings the gauntlet down to her enemies. They will have a vulnerable young woman who will touch the heart.’ He snorted aloud. ‘If John Tallis addresses the troops at Tilbury with his lantern jaw, he will look like a recruiting sergeant in female attire.’
‘We have not talked about Stephen Judd.’
‘He always has that knowing look. It was ideal for Love and Fortune but not here. I go for Dick.’
‘You really believe he could bring it off?’
‘I do. It may be the title role but it does not involve many speeches. Gloriana exists largely as a symbol. It is her grizzly sea captains like myself who carry the burden of the dialogue.’
Edmund Hoode tapped his fingers on the table and pondered.
‘The other boys will not like this, Lawrence.’
‘I don’t care two hoots about them!’ said Firethorn. ‘It will put them in their place. They’ve been hounding poor Dick on the sly since he came here. If he lands the title role over them, they will be duly chastised.’ He pushed his chair back so that he could stretch himself out. ‘Well? What do you think, Edmund?’
‘I’m not entirely persuaded.’
‘He’ll not let us down – I’m certain of it.’
‘We’d have to spend a lot of time on him.’
‘As much as you wish. You agree, then?’
‘I agree.’
‘Dick Honeydew as Gloriana!’
The two men lifted their cups in toast.
Chapter Six
W hen Nicholas got back to the house late that night, Anne Hendrik was waiting for him with a smile of welcome. Her pleasure at seeing him home again was mingled with relief that he had come to no harm. Nicholas had been working his way through the Bankside stews once more and she feared for his safety in an area that swarmed with low life. His task was fraught with dangers because it took him to some of the most notorious criminal dens in London.
‘How did you fare?’ she asked.
‘Not well,’ he admitted. ‘Someone at the Antelope remembered a tall man with a red beard but
‘There is just one small thing …’
Edmund Hoode tensed as the familiar phrase sounded. Was there to be a total reworking of the play, after all? His fears proved groundless.
‘Who will play the part of Gloriana?’
‘I assumed that it would be Martin Yeo.’
‘So did I until I read it.’
‘Martin has the maturity for the role.’
‘I am wondering if that is enough, Edmund,’ said Firethorn. ‘He is our senior apprentice, yes, and brings a wealth of experience but … well, he does have a hardness of feature that is more suited to an older woman.’
‘Gloriana is in her fifties,’ reminded Hoode.
‘Only in your play. Not when she sits upon the throne of England.’ An affectionate chuckle came. ‘All women are the same, Edmund. They try to defy time. In her heart, Elizabeth is still the young woman she was when she was first crowned.’
‘What are you saying, Lawrence?’
‘I think we should alter her age. Let her shed some twenty or thirty years. A Virgin Queen with the glow of youth still hanging upon her. It will strengthen the role immeasurably and make her love scenes with me much more convincing.’
‘You have a point. It might work to our advantage.’
‘It will, sir.’
‘In that case, we must cast John Tallis in the part.’
‘Indeed we must not.’
‘But he has such presence.’
‘So does that unfortunate jaw of his,’ returned Firethorn with a low moan. ‘John has talent but it is seen at its best when he is a witch or a lady-in-waiting. We cannot have a queen with a lantern jaw.’
‘That leaves Stephen Judd. I would settle for him.’
‘You’re forgetting someone, Edmund.’
‘Am I?’ He sat up in surprise. ‘Dick Honeydew?’
‘Why not?’
‘The boy has not been with us long enough. He still has much to learn. And he is so young.’
‘That is exactly why I would choose him. He has a quality of frail innocence that is perfect. It enlists the audience’s sympathy at once. They will not see a termagant queen who flings the gauntlet down to her enemies. They will have a vulnerable young woman who will touch the heart.’ He snorted aloud. ‘If John Tallis addresses the troops at Tilbury with his lantern jaw, he will look like a recruiting sergeant in female attire.’
‘We have not talked about Stephen Judd.’
‘He always has that knowing look. It was ideal for Love and Fortune but not here. I go for Dick.’
‘You really believe he could bring it off?’
‘I do. It may be the title role but it does not involve many speeches. Gloriana exists largely as a symbol. It is her grizzly sea captains like myself who carry the burden of the dialogue.’
Edmund Hoode tapped his fingers on the table and pondered.
‘The other boys will not like this, Lawrence.’
‘I don’t care two hoots about them!’ said Firethorn. ‘It will put them in their place. They’ve been hounding poor Dick on the sly since he came here. If he lands the title role over them, they will be duly chastised.’ He pushed his chair back so that he could stretch himself out. ‘Well? What do you think, Edmund?’
‘I’m not entirely persuaded.’
‘He’ll not let us down – I’m certain of it.’
‘We’d have to spend a lot of time on him.’
‘As much as you wish. You agree, then?’
‘I agree.’
‘Dick Honeydew as Gloriana!’
The two men lifted their cups in toast.
Chapter Six
W hen Nicholas got back to the house late that night, Anne Hendrik was waiting for him with a smile of welcome. Her pleasure at seeing him home again was mingled with relief that he had come to no harm. Nicholas had been working his way through the Bankside stews once more and she feared for his safety in an area that swarmed with low life. His task was fraught with dangers because it took him to some of the most notorious criminal dens in London.
‘How did you fare?’ she asked.
‘Not well,’ he admitted. ‘Someone at the Antelope remembered a tall man with a red beard but
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